Blair launches campaign for tax increase

Marion County Sheriff Chris Blair talks about his departments commitment to the citizens of Marion County during the kick off of National Victims Rights Week on the downtown square in Ocala, FL on Friday April 19, 2013. Several victims shared their stories and there was inspirational musical performances. The planning committee is made up of local law enforcement and social agencies and number of events for this week was announced.

Published: Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 7:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 7:16 p.m.

Sheriff Chris Blair is trying to rally public support for a tax increase to help pay for millions of dollars in new spending that he believes is necessary to shore up deficiencies in the department.

In a letter addressed to “friends,” Blair notes that he has asked the Marion County Commission to put a half-cent sales tax before voters to pay for needed equipment and forecasts dire consequences if the commission doesn't do so. Commissioners have publicly signaled they are not open to new taxes for the coming budget year.

Blair wants both a sales tax and a property tax increase to support a proposed $17.4 million spending increase for next year. Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Jimmy Pogue said by levying a temporary sales tax, the sheriff could ask for a smaller property tax hike.

Blair intends to make the pitch for that levy at the next regular commission meeting on July 2, according to the letter, which encourages recipients to attend the session and contact the board ahead of time to express support for his idea.

But as Blair tries to sway an apprehensive commission to support a tax, commissioners may consider relieving the sheriff of some of his financial responsibilities.

Commission Chairwoman Kathy Bryant said she is exploring the possibility of bringing the county jail back under the commission's control.

It's an idea Bryant picked up from a counterpart in Escambia County, whose commission recently voted to go that route amidst a budget stand-off with the sheriff there.

It's unclear how that move would affect Marion's budget.

Bryant said she has not fully researched the issue, nor has she directed staff to review the proposal.

Still, Bryant said, the commission must be prepared to contemplate “all options” to deal with Blair's request and keep taxes in line.

In his two-page letter to supporters, sent via emails and social media, Blair notes that his duties are to protect the community, preserve its quality of life and assemble a budget that provides a “high quality of service” to residents and Sheriff's Office employees alike.

He cited recommendations of a 70-person advisory committee he brought in after entering office in January, and points out that he has made strides to carry out his mission.

For example, Blair notes that he found money to hire more patrol deputies and corrections officers by streamlining operations and thinning the supervisory ranks through attrition.

His reorganization plan has created special units to fight property crimes, arrest people with outstanding warrants and “engage in tactical operations” that reduce the county's crime rate, the letter says.

“I will continue in these efforts to combat crime, apprehend the offenders and bring to justice those that violate the peace of our daily lives,” Blair writes.

“(G)oing forward the MCSO (Marion County Sheriff's Office) will make every effort to provide a high quality of service and professionalism that the taxpayers can be proud of.”

The sheriff argues that the existing levels of service cannot be maintained under the current funding level.

The Sheriff's Office's 2013 budget was set at $67.1 million.

Blair recently asked the County Commission, which has legislative authority over all county agency budgets, to boost that to $84.5 million for 2014, a 26-percent jump.

Blair said if nothing is done, he will have to cut the budget by $4.5 million.

Pogue, his spokesman, attributed about $500,000 of that gap to having fund 10 deputies hired under an expiring federal grant. The other $4 million resulted from unspecified “past business practices,” Pogue said in an email.

The suggested cuts noted in Blair's letter include grounding of the agency's helicopter, pulling deputies from public schools, parking “high mileage” vehicles, closing down part of the jail, eliminating the juvenile detention center that the county operates on behalf of the state and making across-the-board job cuts.

“I find these options not acceptable and will do all in my power to avoid them but I need your help,” Blair writes.

He says he will present the commission a “State of the Sheriff's Office” report illustrating the “dire financial situation that I have inherited.”

“Our purpose is not to lay blame as to how we got here, but to rally support for a solution to this shared community need,” Blair says in the letter.

The sheriff adds that he will offer a five-year strategic plan to replace failing assets, increase staffing and bolster the agency's “non-competitive” starting pay for new deputies.

Blair isn't the only constitutional officer to ask for more money in his budget this year, but his increase is the largest by far. If the county budget was approved as it stands at this early stage, the requests would require a property tax increase of about $109 a year for the owner of a home valued at $100,000.

Of that $109, the sheriff's increase amounts to $75. The remaining $34 would go for keeping the county's cash reserves at current levels and to fund small but required increases for the county Health Department and for repaying bonds that support the Pennies for Parks account.

If that same homeowner lives in unincorporated Marion, which has a special tax district that funds the Sheriff's Office's patrol and investigative operations, the tax bill would go up another $135 to pay for Blair's requests.

Pogue said the sheriff's advocacy for the sales tax is meant to lessen the blow of the property tax increases. But it doesn't mean that raising property taxes is not needed, he added.

Blair in the letter notes that he considered “several funding options” before concluding that the best one was a half-cent sales tax.

County Budget Director Michael Tomich has said such a tax would generate about $17 million. After sharing the revenue with the municipalities, the county would receive roughly $14 million.

By law, however, that money could only be used for infrastructure, such as new patrol cars or equipment, and not personnel or salaries — which Blair indicates are his most important concerns.

Blair's airing of a possible sales tax to support his needs comes as the Ocala City Council is also weighing a half-cent sales tax to support construction of a baseball stadium in the hope of landing a New York Yankees minor league team.

The city holds elections on Oct. 15 and city officials were eyeing that as the time to go to the voters.

That, however, would require support from the County Commission.

Commissioners would have to decide to put either or both sales-tax questions on the ballot and expand the vote to a countywide election.

Elections Supervisor Wesley Wilcox has said an all-encompassing election in October would cost about $350,000 and require the commission to make a decision to go forward by July 16.

Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn recently told the Star-Banner that he contacted Blair about combining the issues into one tax and splitting the proceeds for their respective needs.

The sheriff, in his letter to his supporters, makes it clear he doesn't want to do that.

“I don't endorse lumping every community need into the same bushel basket as I feel each matter should stand or fall on its own merits,” he writes.

“We at the Sheriff's Office feel that the proper course of action to solve this pressing issue is to seek the county commissions (sic) blessing to place this one half cent sales tax to a referendum before the voting public,” Blair adds.

“That way, the citizens can openly debate this topic and make an informed decision as to the priorities for their tax dollars. ‘We the people' can then determine the adequate level of service that we expect and are willing or unwilling to fund.”

<p>Sheriff Chris Blair is trying to rally public support for a tax increase to help pay for millions of dollars in new spending that he believes is necessary to shore up deficiencies in the department.</p><p>In a letter addressed to “friends,” Blair notes that he has asked the Marion County Commission to put a half-cent sales tax before voters to pay for needed equipment and forecasts dire consequences if the commission doesn't do so. Commissioners have publicly signaled they are not open to new taxes for the coming budget year.</p><p>Blair wants both a sales tax and a property tax increase to support a proposed $17.4 million spending increase for next year. Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Jimmy Pogue said by levying a temporary sales tax, the sheriff could ask for a smaller property tax hike.</p><p>Blair intends to make the pitch for that levy at the next regular commission meeting on July 2, according to the letter, which encourages recipients to attend the session and contact the board ahead of time to express support for his idea.</p><p>But as Blair tries to sway an apprehensive commission to support a tax, commissioners may consider relieving the sheriff of some of his financial responsibilities.</p><p>Commission Chairwoman Kathy Bryant said she is exploring the possibility of bringing the county jail back under the commission's control.</p><p>It's an idea Bryant picked up from a counterpart in Escambia County, whose commission recently voted to go that route amidst a budget stand-off with the sheriff there.</p><p>It's unclear how that move would affect Marion's budget.</p><p>Bryant said she has not fully researched the issue, nor has she directed staff to review the proposal.</p><p>Still, Bryant said, the commission must be prepared to contemplate “all options” to deal with Blair's request and keep taxes in line.</p><p>In his two-page letter to supporters, sent via emails and social media, Blair notes that his duties are to protect the community, preserve its quality of life and assemble a budget that provides a “high quality of service” to residents and Sheriff's Office employees alike.</p><p>He cited recommendations of a 70-person advisory committee he brought in after entering office in January, and points out that he has made strides to carry out his mission.</p><p>For example, Blair notes that he found money to hire more patrol deputies and corrections officers by streamlining operations and thinning the supervisory ranks through attrition.</p><p>His reorganization plan has created special units to fight property crimes, arrest people with outstanding warrants and “engage in tactical operations” that reduce the county's crime rate, the letter says.</p><p>“I will continue in these efforts to combat crime, apprehend the offenders and bring to justice those that violate the peace of our daily lives,” Blair writes.</p><p>“(G)oing forward the MCSO (Marion County Sheriff's Office) will make every effort to provide a high quality of service and professionalism that the taxpayers can be proud of.”</p><p>“To that end,” he adds, “the MCSO finds itself in a dire financial need.”</p><p>The sheriff argues that the existing levels of service cannot be maintained under the current funding level.</p><p>The Sheriff's Office's 2013 budget was set at $67.1 million.</p><p>Blair recently asked the County Commission, which has legislative authority over all county agency budgets, to boost that to $84.5 million for 2014, a 26-percent jump.</p><p>Blair said if nothing is done, he will have to cut the budget by $4.5 million.</p><p>Pogue, his spokesman, attributed about $500,000 of that gap to having fund 10 deputies hired under an expiring federal grant. The other $4 million resulted from unspecified “past business practices,” Pogue said in an email.</p><p>The suggested cuts noted in Blair's letter include grounding of the agency's helicopter, pulling deputies from public schools, parking “high mileage” vehicles, closing down part of the jail, eliminating the juvenile detention center that the county operates on behalf of the state and making across-the-board job cuts.</p><p>“I find these options not acceptable and will do all in my power to avoid them but I need your help,” Blair writes.</p><p>He says he will present the commission a “State of the Sheriff's Office” report illustrating the “dire financial situation that I have inherited.”</p><p>“Our purpose is not to lay blame as to how we got here, but to rally support for a solution to this shared community need,” Blair says in the letter.</p><p>The sheriff adds that he will offer a five-year strategic plan to replace failing assets, increase staffing and bolster the agency's “non-competitive” starting pay for new deputies.</p><p>Blair isn't the only constitutional officer to ask for more money in his budget this year, but his increase is the largest by far. If the county budget was approved as it stands at this early stage, the requests would require a property tax increase of about $109 a year for the owner of a home valued at $100,000.</p><p>Of that $109, the sheriff's increase amounts to $75. The remaining $34 would go for keeping the county's cash reserves at current levels and to fund small but required increases for the county Health Department and for repaying bonds that support the Pennies for Parks account.</p><p>If that same homeowner lives in unincorporated Marion, which has a special tax district that funds the Sheriff's Office's patrol and investigative operations, the tax bill would go up another $135 to pay for Blair's requests.</p><p>Pogue said the sheriff's advocacy for the sales tax is meant to lessen the blow of the property tax increases. But it doesn't mean that raising property taxes is not needed, he added.</p><p>Blair in the letter notes that he considered “several funding options” before concluding that the best one was a half-cent sales tax.</p><p>County Budget Director Michael Tomich has said such a tax would generate about $17 million. After sharing the revenue with the municipalities, the county would receive roughly $14 million.</p><p>By law, however, that money could only be used for infrastructure, such as new patrol cars or equipment, and not personnel or salaries — which Blair indicates are his most important concerns.</p><p>Blair's airing of a possible sales tax to support his needs comes as the Ocala City Council is also weighing a half-cent sales tax to support construction of a baseball stadium in the hope of landing a New York Yankees minor league team.</p><p>The city holds elections on Oct. 15 and city officials were eyeing that as the time to go to the voters.</p><p>That, however, would require support from the County Commission.</p><p>Commissioners would have to decide to put either or both sales-tax questions on the ballot and expand the vote to a countywide election.</p><p>Elections Supervisor Wesley Wilcox has said an all-encompassing election in October would cost about $350,000 and require the commission to make a decision to go forward by July 16.</p><p>Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn recently told the Star-Banner that he contacted Blair about combining the issues into one tax and splitting the proceeds for their respective needs.</p><p>The sheriff, in his letter to his supporters, makes it clear he doesn't want to do that.</p><p>“I don't endorse lumping every community need into the same bushel basket as I feel each matter should stand or fall on its own merits,” he writes.</p><p>“We at the Sheriff's Office feel that the proper course of action to solve this pressing issue is to seek the county commissions (sic) blessing to place this one half cent sales tax to a referendum before the voting public,” Blair adds.</p><p>“That way, the citizens can openly debate this topic and make an informed decision as to the priorities for their tax dollars. 'We the people' can then determine the adequate level of service that we expect and are willing or unwilling to fund.”</p><p><i>Contact Bill Thompson at 867-4117 or bill.thompson@starbanner.com.</i></p>